L2 Cache Performance Impact

Battlefield 2142 – Direct3D

Notes

To see how much of an impact L2 cache size has on performance, we’re pitting a Core 2 Extreme CPU that’s been underclocked to the Core 2 Duo E6400’s stock speed of 2.13GHz, as well as the X2 5200+ against the 5000+. At 800x600, the underclocked 4MB cache Core 2 Extreme chip ran 6% faster than the 2MB Core 2 Duo running at the same speed, so the extra cache definitely gives the Extreme a nice boost in Battlefield 2142, we saw the same occur for the Athlon 64 X2s, with the 5200+ running 5% faster thanks to its larger 1MB L2 cache.